A significant incident occurred at Srinagar airport on July 26, 2025, involving a senior Indian Army officer and SpiceJet ground staff, resulting in serious injuries to the staff and prompting investigations by both civil and military authorities. The altercation began over a dispute regarding excess baggage fees.
According to SpiceJet, the Army officer was scheduled to board flight SG-386 to Delhi and had two pieces of cabin baggage weighing 16 kg, exceeding the permitted limit of 7 kg. When staff politely requested that he pay the applicable charges for the excess baggage, the officer reportedly refused and "forcefully entered the aerobridge without completing the boarding process," violating aviation security protocols. CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) personnel then escorted him back to the gate.
SpiceJet reported that the situation escalated at the boarding gate, with the officer allegedly "grievously assaulting" four staff members using punches, kicks, and a metal queue stand. One employee reportedly suffered a spinal fracture, while another sustained serious jaw injuries. Another staff member reportedly collapsed and lost consciousness, but was still beaten while on the ground, while another suffered bleeding from the nose and mouth after being kicked in the jaw while assisting the injured colleague. The injured employees were immediately taken to a hospital for treatment.
Video clips of the incident circulated on social media, showing the officer assaulting the staff, including hitting one of them with a queue stand. The CISF personnel intervened to restrain the officer. SpiceJet has strongly condemned the violence and stated that it will pursue the matter to its fullest legal and regulatory conclusion. The airline has also initiated the process of placing the passenger on the no-fly list, in accordance with civil aviation regulations.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered with the local police, and SpiceJet has handed over CCTV footage of the incident to the authorities. The case has been registered under Section 115 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with voluntarily causing hurt to another person. Some reports indicate the officer has been booked for "murderous assault". The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is also reviewing the offense under its unruly passenger rules, which could result in a flying ban.
The Army has acknowledged the incident and stated that it is cooperating fully with the civil authorities in the investigation. An Army spokesperson stated that the Indian Army is committed to upholding the highest standards of discipline and conduct and takes all allegations seriously.
